Flow control paddle assembly



Sept. 13, 1955 w. H. GOAD FLOW CONTROL PADDLE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 17, 1954 INVENTOR. M/Zzamh. Gaad United States Patent FLOW CU'N'E'RQL PADDLE ASSEMBLY William H. Goad, Pulaski, Va.

Application February 17, 1954, Serial No. 410,817

1 Claim. (Cl. 193-11) This invention relates to a liquid flow control mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid that is applied as a spray to bulk materials such as coal as it is being loaded into railroad cars.

The object of the invention is to provide a liquid flow control mechanism which will automatically vary the quantity of liquid being dispensed as the volume of bulk material such as coal, varies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for regulating the flow of liquids that are applied through sprays to coal as it is loaded into railroad cars and wherein the liquid may be oil, calcium chloride solution wherein a means is provided for varying the treatment flow in direct proportion to variation in volume of coal flow.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flow control assembly which is extremely simple and inexpen sive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the flow control assembly of the present invention mounted in a conveyor, the conveyor being shown in section and with the position of the parts being shown when no coal is passing over the conveyor so that the paddle rests in a vertical position and the valve is closed.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing how the paddle is lifted when coal passes over the chute to open the valve.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates a chute or body member that is adapted to have bulk material such as coal 13 pass therethrough into a railway car or the like. The chute 10 may include an inclined bottom wall 11 and spaced parallel side walls 12.

Extending across the top of the chute 10 is a support member 14 which can be made of any suitable material, and the support member 14 may be substantially U-shape in cross section, as shown in Figure 5. The support member 14 may be secured to the side walls 12 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of the nails or screws 15.

The present invention is directed to a mechanism for controlling spray of fluids onto the bulk material such as the coal 13 as the coal passes through the chute. This mechanism comprises a paddle 16 which is positioned between the pair of side walls 12 as shown in Figure 3. The upper end of the paddle 16 is hingedly connected to the support member 14 by a pair of hinges 17.

Supported by the support member 14 is a valve 18 1 railway cars and the like.

2,717,681 Patented Sept. 13, 1955 which includes a casing 19 that is secured to the support member 14 by screws or bolts 20, Figure 5. An inlet conduit 21 leads to the casing 19, and the conduit 21 is adapted to convey fluid from a suitable source of supply to the valve. Rotatably supported within the casing 19 is a tapered core 22, Figure 4, and the core 22 is provided with a passageway or cutout 23. A conduit 24 which may be made of flexible material leads from the valve 18, and when the core 22 is rotated, the passage 23 can be moved to a position so that it connects the conduit 21 with the conduit 24. Or, when the parts are positioned as shown in Figure 5 the valve will be closed so that no fluid will flow from the conduit 21 to the conduit 24. A spray head 25 which may have a plurality of apertures therein is secured to the free end of the outlet conduit 24, and the spray head 25 is adapted to spray the fluid onto the coal 13.

Secured to the paddle 16 is a bracket 26, and an arm 27 is secured to the bracket 26 by suitable bolt and nut assemblies 28. A pin 45 pivotally connects the upper end of the arm 27 'to a lever 29, and a weight 30 is connected to an end of the lever 29 by a set screw 31, Figure 2.' The other end of the lever 29 is pivotally connected to a link 33 by means of a pin 32, and the link 33 is connected to a trunnion 34 by means of a pin 35. The trunnion 34 is secured to an end of the valve core 22, and a similar trunnion 38 extends from the other end of the valve core 22. A washer 36 is mounted on the trunnion 38, and a nut 37 may be arranged in threaded engagement with the trunnion 38. Nut 37 may be arranged in threaded engagement with the trunnion 38. This linkage arrangement provides that when the paddle 16 is moved from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 by passage of the coal 13 down along the chute, the valve core 22 will be rotated from the position shown in Figure 5 to an open position so that fluid flows from the conduit 21 through the passageway 23 through the passageway 24 and then out through the spray head 25 onto the coal 13.

Secured to the paddle 16 is a pair of brackets 39, and the brackets 39 may be secured to the paddle 16 by screws or bolts 40. Journaled between the brackets 39 is a rod 41, and the rod 41 is free to rotate in the brackets 39. The rod 41 has secured thereto the spray head 25, and the spray head 25 may be secured to the rod 41 as by welding at 42. A finger 43 is connected to an end of the rod 41, and a weight 44 is carried by the finger 43. This weight 44 serves to insure that the spray head 25 Will always remain in a vertical position regardless of the position of the paddle 16.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a flow control paddle assembly which is especially suitable for controlling the flow of liquid spray onto bulk materials such as coal 13 as it is being loaded into In use with no coal flowing through the chute 10 the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1. Then, when coal 13 passes through the chute 10, the paddle 16 will be lifted or pivoted about the hinges 17 so that the parts will move to the position shown in Figure 2. If less coal is passing through the chute 10 then the paddle 16 will not be moved quite as high as shown in Figure 2. As the paddle 16 moves upwardly the linkage system provided causes rotation of the valve core 22 and this moves the passageway 23 into position so that it connects the conduits 21 and 24 whereby the liquid will pass to the spray head 25 and from the spray head 25 the liquid will be sprayed onto the coal 13. The counterweight 44 maintains the spray head 25 at all times in a vertical position and the weight 30 normally maintains the paddle 16 and its associated parts in the position shown in Figure 1 when no coal is flowing down the chute. After the coal has passed through the chute the parts will return to the position shown in Figure 1 so that the valve 18 will be closed and no more fluid will pass to the spray head 25.

The present invention is designed primarily to regulate the flow of liquids that are applied as sprays to coal as the coal is loaded into railway cars. These liquids may be oil, calcium chloride solution or the like which are used for creosote proofing and prevention of dust and these liquids are usually applied to the coal as it discharges from the ends of loading conveyors. there is much variation in the volume of coal passing over the conveyors since at one period the coal may be passing over the conveyors at the rate of two tons per minute and later on the rate may diminish abruptly to a rate of one ton per minute. Under such conditions treatment cannot be uniformly applied to the coal in gallons of treatment per ton of coal without providing a means or" varying the treatment flow in direct proportion to variations in volume of coal flow. However with the present invention this can be accomplished.

The paddle 16 can be constructed or" any suitable material such as wood, and the counterweight 30 serves to hold the paddle against the surface of the coal passing over the conveyor. An orifice can be provided for the spray head 25 that will deliver the desired rate of liquid flow when the valve is entirely open and when the paddle is resting in a vertical position as when no coal is passing over the conveyor, the valve is completely closed. As the coal begins to flow over the conveyor the paddle is lifted opening the valve 18 in proportion to the height the paddle is lifted and starting the liquid fiow through the lines to the spray head 25. As the depth of coal stream on the conveyor increases or decreases, the fiow of liquid is varied proportionately and automatically.

There is further provided a leveling device for holding the spray head 25 in a fixed position regardless of the However,

L pitch of the hoisting boom which encases and supports the loading conveyors. This leveling device includes the iron rod 41 which is secured to the spray head 25 and the rod 41 is held in a vertical position by means of the weight 44.

I claim:

In combination, an inclined body member including a bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel side walls secured to said bottom wall, a support member extending across the top of said side walls and secured thereto, a paddle positioned between said side walls and hingedly connected to said support member, a valve supported on said support member and including a casing, a first conduit connected to said casing and adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fluid, a core rotatably seated in said casing and provided with a passageway therein, a second conduit connected to said casing, a spray head connected to the free end of said second conduit, an arm having one end connected to said paddle, a lever pivotally connected to said arm, a link having one end pivotally connected to said lever and its other end connected to said valve core, a weight connected to the free end of said lever, a pair of brackets secured to said paddle, a rod journaled between said pair of brackets and secured to said spray head, a finger connected to an end of said rod, and a counterweight secured to said finger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 670,222 Campbell Mar. 19, 1901 1,269,793 Dargin June 18, 1918 1,534,378 Germek Apr. 21, 1925 1,811,969 Rosenfeld June 30, 1931 2,420,368 Giordano May 13, 1947 

